trout line fall conservation 2014 - montana trout unlimited · install woody debris along the banks...
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Newsletter from the Montana Council of Trout UnlimitedTROUT LINEOn July 1, 2011, the Silvertip
Pipeline burst, spewing 63,000 gallons of crude oil into the
Yellowstone River near Billings. The catastrophe made headlines around the country. State biologists are still monitoring the river and floodplain in an effort to evaluate long-term impacts and liability. But there is another, quieter and equally unsettling story occurring: Dozens of additional oil spills occur every year in Montana, most of which go unpublicized. Oil spills in Montana, it seems, happen with disturbing regularity. According to an E&E News report, the
Yellowstone River spill was just one of 90 oil spills in Montana in 2011, while 2012 saw 83 oil spills and in 2013 the number jumped to 123. In addition to oil, spills of “produced water” are also common. Produced water is a byproduct of oil and gas
development and it can be salty, really salty, ranging from 100 mg/l to 400,000 mg/l. For reference, seawater is 35,000 mg/l. Spills of produced water have
killed fish and can be toxic to aquatic insects, thereby concerning to trout fisheries. The size of some produced water spills are significant. Last year
Denbury Resources was responsible for a 714,000-gallon spill that flowed over the border from Montana into North Dakota, eventually making its way 1.5
miles down a stream. While the Silvertip and Denbury spills are notably large, smaller spills occur every year. Some are contained
onsite and have little environmental impact, and some pollute surface waters. Unfortunately, information concerning the size, frequency, causes,
In late August the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it would not list Montana’s arctic grayling
as a threatened or endangered species under the federal Endangered Species Act. People are asking Montana TU for our perspective on the decision. In a nutshell, we have always been ambivalent about ESA listing and never viewed it as a panacea for restoring populations of these wonderful native fish. But we
Feds will not list Montana’s grayling as endangeredhave never opposed listing either. That’s for others to push. Our focus has always been on helping get meaningful conservation resources on the ground benefitting the fish, irrespective of listing. Montana’s native grayling have been the subject of listing petitions, reviews and lawsuits since 1991. For years the Service considered the species a candidate for listing, but avoided formal designation citing two factors: The agency had too many other higher priority species it was dealing with, and, conservation actions on behalf of grayling in Montana, especially in the Big Hole watershed, were already producing positive results. Now, the agency says the fish in Montana is no longer at risk of extirpation and no longer a formal
candidate for listing. So what has changed? Well, populations of this rare native have certainly not exploded. Certain key local populations have been stabilized, or slightly increased, such as the important fluvial, or stream-dwelling,
form found in the Big Hole River and its tributaries. However, grayling there are still scarce. The difference with this decision is that the Service used new genetic and population
criteria to describe the overall grayling population in Southwest Montana. Previous listing proposals generally focused on the Big Hole grayling – the last native stream dwelling population in the Lower 48 states – and the adfluvial, or lake dwelling, grayling in the Red Rocks
Fall2014
by Bruce Farling
Is ESA non-listing a big deal?
see GRAYLING, page 7
It is essential to remember that
listing or not, these fish still need help.
Dozens of additional oil spills occur every year
in Montana, most of which go unpublicized.
see OIL & GAS, page 6
Montana’s oil & gas regs need reform by Corey Fisher
Celebrating 50 years of conservation1964 - 2014
Grayling Image courtesy Joseph Tomelleri
Crude oil courtesy of anankkml at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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MONTANA TU’S MISSION is to conserve, protect and restore Montana’s world-class coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.
Founded in 1964, Montana Trout Unlimited is a statewide grassroots organization comprised of 13 chapters and approximately 3,900 TU members.
Get Montana TU plates at your county motor vehicle office!
TROUT LINE is published quarterly by Montana Trout Unlimited.
EDITING AND DESIGN......BRUCE FARLING & KATE GRANT
Printed on recycled paper using eco-friendly inks.
© 2014 Montana Council of Trout Unlimited.
Fall 2014
Fall/14
www.montanatu.org
Well, that was fun. Montana TU celebrated the 50th Anniversary of its formal
beginnings on September 20 at the confluence of Rock Creek and the Clark Fork River. More than 150 conservation-minded anglers, including many old and current TU luminaries from around the state, attended the celebration. It was a fitting location. Some of TU’s best grassroots achievements in western Montana have benefitted these two fine trout streams. Looking retrospectively at our first five decades it’s clear that the credible and effective organization we have become has been built on the broad shoulders of some of Montana’s
best and brightest conservation heroes with names like Bailey, Lilly, Morris, Schoonen, Grant, McClelland, Bradshaw – along with a cast of thousands of passionate, uncommonly talented volunteers. Our next line of
leaders and heroes are probably reading this. A few, I suspect, will have attended our Kid’s Conservation & Fly Fishing Camp. With nearly 4,000
members who donated close to 16,000 hours of volunteer work last year, Montana TU clearly has a good start on the next 50 years of conserving, protecting and restoring the best of the best trout waters in the nation.
50 yearsyoung
Thanks to Five Valleys Land Trust for use of the Rock Creek Confluence Property
and Robin Poole for his photography. RobinsNaturePics.Smugmug.com
Bud LillyMarshall Bloom & Stan Bradshaw
WestSlope TU Chapter’s Penny Ritchie & Jamie Short Monte Dolack & Steve
Woodruff
Excellent spread by Charlie B.’s BBQ
MTU’s past Chairmen: Tom Anacker, Dan Short, Doug Nation, Bill Cain, Marshall Bloom, Harry Miller & Bud Lilly
Harry Miller & Bruce Farling
Gayle Joslin, Mary Beth Percival & Rita Wolfe enjoy dessert from the ice cream truck John Gibson & Jim Pozewitz
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OFFICERSDOUG HAACKE, CHAIRMAN
Billings(406) 656-4072
DAN SHORT, PAST CHAIRMANAND NLC DIRECTOR
Kalispell(406) 250-5064
CHRIS SCHUSTROM, VICE CHAIRMANWhitefish
(406) [email protected]
BRIAN NEILSEN, SECRETARYGreat Falls
(406) [email protected]
SHARON SWEENEY FEE, TREASURERLivingston
(406) [email protected]
DAN VERMILLION, NATIONAL TRUSTEELivingston
(406) [email protected]
Montana TU STAFFBRUCE FARLING
EXECUTIVE [email protected]
MARK AAGENESCONSERVATION DIRECTOR
KELLEY WILLETTDEVELOPMENT [email protected]
KATE GRANTPROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR
MAILING ADDRESSPO Box 7186
Missoula, MT 59807
OFFICE LOCATION111 N. Higgins Ave., Suite 500
Missoula, MT 59802
Phone: (406) 543-0054
MONTANA COUNCIL OF
TROUT UNLIMITED
Montana Trout Unlimited
2015 Montana Legislature will be challenging for water and troutIt seems we say this every other year,
but make no mistake: The upcoming session of the Montana Legislature
promises to be very challenging. The leadership for the majority party is chock full of individuals who have sponsored or supported bills in the past that sought to weaken water quality protections, stream access and funding for habitat restoration. Expect the same this January. We’re likely to see legislation to exempt the mining industry from pollution protection regulations on behalf of the Canadian company proposing a mine in
the headwaters of the Smith River. And expect deep debate – and irrational and ideological arguments – from opponents of the State’s proposed water compact with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Montana TU will try to convince lawmakers to ratify the accord because it benefits both fish and existing water users.
Please let your legislators know you value clean water and wild trout. Stay updated at www.montanatu.org and contact [email protected] if you want to receive periodic legislative updates and alerts.
by staff
4 Fall 2014
CHAPTER NEWSBitterroot Chapter
Bitterroot TU’s 35th annual banquet in September was its most successful yet, thanks to generous donors and hard working volunteers. The chapter presented Jack Mauer with its 20th annual Golden Trout award for his solid dedication to conserving and protecting the Bitterroot River fishery. Chapter members meet each Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. for a fly tying round-table and microbrews at the Bitterroot Brewing Co. at 10 Marcus Street in Hamilton. Ria Overholt and Greg Chester are planning the winter Bitterroot Buggers program. To volunteer, contact Greg at (406) 363-0033 or [email protected].
Kootenai Valley Chapter
Kootenai Valley TU members Tim Linehan and Mike Rooney are working with the USFS, US Corps of Engineers and MFWP on the Libby Instream Habitat Project. The groups plan to install woody debris along the banks and in channels of the Kootenai River, one mile downstream of Libby Dam. They hope to place the structures when the water is low in late summer and early fall, 2015. Contact Mike at [email protected].
Flathead Valley ChapterFor the fifth consecutive year, TU volunteers from Western Montana helped state and federal biologists with a lake trout gillnetting aimed at helping native fish in Swan Lake. Most lake trout were donated to a local food bank and
some went to a raptor rehabilitation facility. Biologists radio-tagged thirty mature lake trout during the project to help pinpoint spawning areas for the fall netting operation. Chapter members participated in the Outdoor Pursuits class at Glacier High School this year, and shared their knowledge about Montana native fish, conservation and fly tying. Flathead Valley TU is also providing an aquarium for a high school Trout in the Classroom project this year. Snowy Mountain Chapter
In September, the Snowy Mountain Chapter held its annual raffle in conjunction with the Chokecherry Festival in Lewistown. Help from the community, TU volunteers and donors made the fundraiser a big success. The chapter is partnering with DNRC and other groups to repair a bridge that is deteriorating near the Upper Burleigh FAS on Big Spring Creek. If the bridge were to be removed, the community would lose an historic and key public access feature. Contact Mike at [email protected].
Lewis & Clark ChapterLong-time chapter and state council member Will Murray moved to Juneau, Alaska, to work for NRCS in September. His departure leaves a void in TU’s presence around the Twin Bridges and Dillon areas. Any member interested in a leadership position with TU’s Lewis & Clark Chapter is encouraged to contact Mark Aagenes, Montana TU’s conservation director, at 406.543.0054 or [email protected].
George Grant Chapter
Chapter president Rich Day is developing a formal grant solicitation policy for contributing money toward local fishery habitat restoration projects. “We want to do what’s good for trout, but in a more organized way,” Day says. The grants will require a 1:1 match and projects must be within the George Grant Chapter’s upper Clark Fork / Big Hole home waters. For complete details, or to help plan for the chapter’s 2015 banquet, contact [email protected].
Missouri River FlyfishersMissouri River Flyfishers continue to keep a close eye on developments of the proposed mine in the headwaters of the Smith River. Over the summer, the organization helped fund a Project Healing Waters trip on the Missouri River for 8 veterans. MRF is planning its annual fundraising banquet, slated for February 21, 2015, and will host the IF4 Film Tour March 14, 2015. Contact Paul at 406.595.7460 or [email protected].
Marshall Bloom and ‘Banjo’ Jack Mauer
FWP biologist measures lake trout at Swan Lake
Lewistown’s Annual Chokecherry Festival
5Montana Trout Unlimited
BITTERROOT CHAPTER #80Ross Rademacher, Corvallis (406) 522-9816
[email protected]/blog/
BIG BLACKFOOT CHAPTER #544Scott Gordon, Seeley Lake (406) 677-8420
FLATHEAD VALLEY CHAPTER #85Larry Timchak, Kalispell (406) 250-7473
GEORGE GRANT CHAPTER #183Rich Day, Butte (406) 723-2307
JOE BROOKS CHAPTER #25Amy Schilling, Livingston (406) 223-2244
KOOTENAI VALLEY CHAPTER #683Mike Rooney, Libby (406) 293-1947
LEWIS & CLARK CHAPTER #656PO Box 903
Sheridan, MT 59749www.lctu.org
MADISON-GALLATIN CHAPTER #24Mark Peterson, Bozeman (406) 595-1409
[email protected] www.mgtu.org
MAGIC CITY FLY FISHERS #582Lyle Courtnage, Billings (406) 896-1824
MISSOURI RIVER FLYFISHERS Paul Considine, Great Falls (406) 595-7460
PAT BARNES/MISSOURI RIVER CHAPTER #55
Garrett Fawaz, Helena (406) [email protected]
www.patbarnestu.org
SNOWY MOUNTAIN CHAPTER #610Mike Chapman, Lewistown (406) 538-2517
WESTSLOPE CHAPTER #56Jamie Short, Missoula (406) 728-0630
MONTANA TROUT UNLIMITED
CHAPTERS& PRESIDENTSWestSlope Chapter
In October, the chapter contributed funds to help Five Valleys Land Trust purchase a 147-acre parcel on lower Fish Creek, an important bull trout and cutthroat tributary of the lower Clark Fork. FVLT plans to transfer the land to MFWP for inclusion in the Fish Creek Wildlife Management Area. The chapter secured a mini-grant from Montana TU to assist Paul Parson, TU’s Clark Fork restoration coordinator, with a restoration project in the Ninemile drainage on the lower Clark Fork. Paul is managing the work to restore sections of Sawpit and Ninemile Creeks that have been degraded by mining. Habitat restoration at the confluence of Rock Creek and the Clark Fork continues this fall. FVLT purchased the property and the chapter and state council are consulting and chipping in on restoration. Heavy machinery students from Missoula College are doing the work through a partnership that provides significant savings.
Big Blackfoot Chapter
The Big Blackfoot Chapter upgraded five undersized stream crossings this past season on Liverpool, Keep Cool and Gleason Creeks. The projects opened up nearly 10 miles of habitat for fish. The chapter is gearing up for two mining restoration projects on key Blackfoot River native trout tributaries in 2015. [email protected].
Magic City Flyfishers
Magic City Fly Fishers sent a recommendation to MFWP in support of removing non-native fish in Soda Butte Creek above Ice Box Falls in Yellowstone National Park. They will
be replaced with native Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Chapter volunteers helped out at a Casting for Recovery retreat in August, and fly tying classes started in November. Magic City Fly Fishers will have a booth with fly tying demonstrations and more at the Great Rockies Sportshow January 9-11, 2015 at MetraPark in Billings. Contact Lyle at 406.896.1824 or [email protected].
CHAPTER NEWS
Sawpit Creek restoration site
Waiting for Great Rockies Sportshow to open in Billings
6 Fall 2014
environmental effects and enforcement actions is difficult for the public to obtain. The Montana Board of Oil and Gas Conservation (MBOGC) is the state agency that issues drilling permits, oversees industry activity, and implements Montana’s oil and gas regulations. But the agency does not maintain publically accessible, online records of incidents, inspections and enforcement actions. Instead, paper records are kept, and while the public can review the records with some difficulty, the level of transparency falls far short of other western states. For instance, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission maintains all incident and enforcement records in a format that is easily searchable in an online database. Besides problems with transparency, an even bigger issue is whether the Montana board is actually equipped to efficiently monitor and regulate approximately 43,000 wells (17,600 are in various stages of production). Under the current system, the oil and gas board is charged with twin, and at times conflicting, purposes:
regulating the industry while at the same time encouraging development. Further, state law requires that the 7-member board body favor industry interests -- with three members “whom shall be from the oil & gas industry”. Board members are not required to have expertise in conservation of fish, wildlife or water. This is often evident in permitting decisions. For
instance, last February the board approved a controversial well located approximately .2 miles from Silver Tip Creek, a coldwater fishery and within identified core habitat of imperiled sage grouse. Despite nearly 90
minutes of testimony from concerned residents, the permit was approved 6-1. The Billings Gazette quoted the dissenting board member saying that the board vote was consistent with the law, but that the environmental issues surrounding the project still demanded attention. This begs the question: If the law does not require adequate consideration for fish, wildlife and local concerns, it is probably time to change the law.
Technological advancements such as fracking are spurring expanded oil and gas development in Montana, including in trout country such as the Beartooth Front. Taking a fresh look at how Montana monitors and regulates oil and gas development is overdue, as is an evaluation of whether composition of the appointed board that oversees these activities is up to the task. And there might be no better time than during our upcoming legislative session.
Corey Fisher is the Missoula-based Assistant Energy Director for TU’s Sportsmen’s Conservation Project. Contact Corey at 406.541.8236 or [email protected].
OIL & GAS, from page 1
If the law does not require adequate consideration
for fish, wildlife and local concerns, it is probably time to change the law.
2011 cleanup of oil spill in the Yellowstone River
If you’re concerned about the Smith River watershed
and want to learn about the proposed mine development in its headwaters, visit
www.SmithRiverWatch.orgStay informed. Check out Montana TU’s new
website dedicated to protecting the Smith River.
Image courtesy Anthony Rabasca
7Montana Trout Unlimited
Lakes in the Centennial Valley. At the time of Lewis and Clark, grayling were found in a number of streams and a few lakes in the Missouri River drainage above the Great Falls. They were also found in a few Michigan rivers, where they are now extinct. These populations had been isolated for thousands of years from their counterparts in Alaska and Canada. The Service has determined Montana’s fish are somewhat unique because of their long-standing genetic isolation, and because they occur in warmer, drier areas than grayling in northern regions. In the recent finding, the Service concluded that there are now 20 populations of native grayling in Southwest Montana. The agency now includes in its status evaluation populations found in several other lakes in the Big Hole, Gallatin and Madison River drainages, even though these populations were either created or supplemented through hatchery plants. Also included now is the reintroduced population in the upper Ruby River, as well as the few remnant wild fish found in the Madison River and Ennis Reservoir, which also probably result from historical stocking. The agency includes these populations now because genetic information indicates they
Dr. Marshall BloomM.D. & scientist
Monte DolackArtist
Dr. Stanley FalkowProfessor of microbiology
Jerry LappierCo-owner, The Trout Shop
Bud LillyNoted angler and author
Tom MorganFlyrod, reel & boat designer/builder
Drs. Robert and Peggy Ratcheson
Professor of neurosurgery, anthropology & anglers
Paul MoseleyOwner, Ruby Springs Lodge
Roy O’ConnorRancher, business owner &
conservationist
Paul RoosOutfitter & conservationist
Craig & Jackie MathewsOwners, Blue Ribbon Flies
Paul StanleyRetired business owner
K.C. WalshCEO, Simms Fishing Products
Dr. Irving WeissmanProfessor of pathology, angler
& conservationist
MONTANA TU STEWARDSHIP DIRECTORS
GRAYLING, from page 1
Wondering what to get the angler who has everything? How about a gift in his or her honor to Montana Trout Unlimited this holiday season? Contact Kelley Willett at (406) 543-0054 or [email protected] and cross one off your holiday to-do list.
FishEyeGuyPhotography.com
include progeny of the original Montana grayling and they occur within historical range, regardless that their presence results from a hatchery introduction. Further, the agency no longer considers fluvial and adfluvial fish as distinct populations, even though their life history behaviors differ. By putting all these fish into one pot – irrespective of how they got where they are, or, whether they prefer streams or lakes – the agency now concludes there are enough wild grayling in the upper Missouri River basin to avoid listing. That is debatable. The populations are still limited, they still occupy only a fraction of their original range and the number of individuals in some populations is sparse. Still, whether the fish are listed or not might not be that important for restoration. Montana TU has always maintained that listing doesn’t guarantee beneficial conservation will result. However, the threat of listing has definitely incentivized agencies and landowners to implement conservation efforts, on their own terms, without a regulatory forcing mechanism. This has largely worked in the upper Big Hole area where hundreds of conservation activities on more than 160,000 acres of private land above Wise River have benefitted grayling. This includes
voluntary drought actions that have helped maintain survival flows in the river during drought years, restoration of 26 miles of damaged stream channel, 108 miles of riparian fencing that is improving fish habitat, and installation of water-efficient diversions, fish screens, and fish-friendly irrigation weirs – all benefitting grayling habitat. These are the types of actions that would likely result from a formal recovery plan if the fish was listed – that is, if the underfunded and understaffed Service could prod landowners into doing the work under a regulatory hammer. Though listing might be the appropriate legal tool, it is not necessarily the only or best tool. It can breed resentment among private landowners, and it could diminish the cooperation currently occurring in the Big Hole and elsewhere. It is essential to remember that listing or not, these fish still need help. Further, it will be important to ensure that the decision not to list doesn’t slow land owner cooperation. Finally, it is crucial that today’s momentum for conservation cascade into larger efforts that ensure these fish endure for generations hence.
For more information contact [email protected].
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PAIDMISSOULA, MT PERMIT NO. 569
Montana Coucil of Trout UnlimitedPO BOX 7186 MISSOULA, MT 59807
TROUT LINEFall2014
UPCOMING EVENTS
Please contact the Missoula office at 888-504-0054 or [email protected] to get the word out in Trout LineWANT OVER 3,800 MONTANA TU MEMBERS TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR EVENT? www.facebook.com/
montanatu@montanatu
No Listing for GraylingPage 1
---------------Montana’s Oil & Gas Regs
Page 1--------------
50th Celebration, 2015 Legislature, Chapter News & more...
Pages 2-5
THIS ISSUE:
www.montanatu.org
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12/6/14
1/16/15
1/14/15
1/6/15
1/5/15
12/16/14
12/10/14
Montana TU State Council Meeting9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Simms Headquarters, 177 Garden Drive near Four Corners in Bozeman. Contact Kate at [email protected].
Madison-Gallatin TU Meeting & Party7-9 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 5 East Baxter Lane in Bozeman. The holiday party is free, open to the public, includes raffles and more. Contact Mark at [email protected].
WestSlope TU MeetingDoubleTree Inn, 100 Madison Street in Missoula. Meet at 6:30 p.m. for fly tying. At 7, Outfitter Joe Sowerby and MTU Executive Director Bruce Farling present, “Fishing and Protecting the Smith River.” Contact Jamie at [email protected].
Flathead Valley TU Holiday Social7 p.m. at FWP, 490 N. Meridian in Kalispell. Gather for a fly swap, raffle, door prizes and good cheer! Contact Larry at [email protected].
Madison-Gallatin TU’s Pints with Purpose5–8 p.m. at Bridger Brewing, 1609 S. 11th Street, Bozeman. The brewery contributes $1 for every pint purchased to MGTU. Contact Mark at [email protected].
12/10/14
1/5/15
Moscow Monday with WestSlope TUMontgomery Distillery, 129 W. Front Street in Missoula. WestSlope TU receives $1 per drink sold from 12–8 p.m. Stop by between 5-8 p.m. and buy your tickets to the chapter’s 2/21/15 banquet. Contact Jamie at [email protected].
Magic City Fly Fishers Meeting2931 Rod and Gun Club Road in Billings. Meet at 7 p.m. for fly tying. The program starts at 7:30. Door prizes and raffles at every meeting. Contact Lyle at [email protected].
WestSlope TU MeetingDoubleTree Inn, 100 Madison Street in Missoula. Fly tying starts at 6:30 p.m. At 7, Pat Saffel from MFWP presents, “Upper Clark Fork Restoration and Fishing Prospects.” Contact Jamie at [email protected].
Bitterroot TU Meeting7 p.m. at the Elks Club, 2013 State Street in Hamilton. Casey Hackathorn, TU’s Upper Clark Fork Restoration Coordinator presents, “Bringing a Trout Stream Back to Life.” Contact Ross at [email protected].
Flathead Valley TU Meeting7 p.m. in the FWP conference room at 490 N. Meridian in Kalispell. Contact Larry at [email protected].
1/20/15